Disclaimers: Mine.

Sex: If you need to ask this question, you’re not familiar with my work.

Note: Folks, there is a rough scene between Cal and Paige.  Paige was able to forgive Cal, so I hope you guys can, too.  Please keep in mind the circumstances surrounding it before you send a lynch party out for me.

If you’d like to tell me what a wonderful writer I am or that I royally suck, feel free at: XenaNut@hotmail.com

Come visit me at: www.coloradobardsplace.com or my publisher at: www.pdpublishing.com.

I Dare You…

by

Kim Pritekel

She was new.  Yet again.  She hated being new.  Why couldn’t she be old?  Callahan Cullen smirked at the thought as she leaned against the lockers.  The hall was empty, most everyone else in class like the good little high school students they were.  Not Cal Cullen.  Nope.  Looking to her right, she could hear phantom clicks of high heels, and to the left, the rippled reflection from the window at the end of the hall on the slightly uneven tile.

Cal pulled a cigarette out from the pack, hidden inside her denim jacket, tucking it behind an ear, and headed to the bathroom down the science hall.  Her heavy boots thudded dully against the flooring, the chains attached from one belt loop to another rattled with every step.  She flexed the fingers of her left hand, wrapped in the fingerless tight black leather of her glove.  Blowing too-long blonde bangs out of her emerald-green eyes, Cal looked both ways to make sure she was still undetected, then shoved the bathroom door inward, stepping into the cold, ugly basics of the girl’s bathroom.

Metal doors banged against painted stall walls as Cal made sure there wasn’t anyone else in the room.  Satisfied that she was alone, she hopped up onto the counter between the last sink and the mint-green wall, resting crossed ankles on the trashcan bolted to the wall.  Resting her back against the long, stained mirror behind her, Cal plucked the cigarette from its holding spot, and wrapped her lips around it.  The small chain wrapped around her left ankle jingled merrily as she wiggled her foot.  Cal’s features were painted gold as the flame of her lighter flickered to life briefly as she touched it to the business end of her smoke.  Setting the Zippo aside, the blonde inhaled, eyes closing as she allowed the nicotine to enter her lungs, then flow out through lazy lips.  Green eyes at half-mass, Cal tried to clear her mind. 

For a split moment, her heart jumped into her throat as the bathroom door squeaked open.  Cal expected to see Warden Matthews barging in, as usual, but was delighted to see the girl she’d had her eye on since she’d arrived at the school, a month earlier.  She had no idea what her name was, nor did she really care, but damn, she was gorgeous: long, almost black hair ran midway down her back.  Blue, blue eyes stared out at the world from a disturbingly beautiful face.  The girl had a body that just didn’t quit.

Paige Watson started, not expecting to see anyone when she pushed open the bathroom door.  But there, relaxing on the counter, was a girl, a cigarette dangling from between her fingers.  “Sorry.  Didn’t know anyone was in here,” she said, heading toward the first stall and softly closing the door and sliding the bolt into place.

“There isn’t,” Cal muttered, taking another drag.  She glanced over at the closed door, trying to shut out the sounds of the girl pissing.  She wasn’t exactly into golden showers.  Finally the toilet flushed, and her dark-haired angel appeared once more, stepping up to the sink and washing her hands.

Paige glanced over at the girl, trying to figure out who she was.  It was a big school, but usually she remembered at least seeing everyone at least once.  This girl, however, she would have remembered.  Her short, blonde hair was messing, falling across her head where it may, giving the girl the carefree look that she was undoubtedly going for.  Her clothing and lazy manner attested to that.  The girl was watching her, even as she stubbed out her cigarette in the sink.  Paige grimaced in disgust, quickly drying her hands and heading out.

Cal watched her go, eyes dropping to take in the brunette’s ass, which fit nicely in the skirt she wore.  The cap-sleeve tee she wore enhanced her breasts nicely, as well.

Cal chuckled to herself, rocking her head lightly against the mirror behind her with a heavy sigh.  She tried to decide what she wanted to do- go back to class from her elongated ‘bathroom break’ or get the fuck out of school for the day.  It was Friday, after all, and she was certainly ready to start her weekend early.  Though why bother?  It wasn’t like she knew anyone, or where to go.  The town was a fucking joke as far as she was concerned.  Her foster family wasn’t going to let her use the car or any shit like that, either.

“Fuck.”  Cal shoved off the counter and headed out into the bright, warm March afternoon.  It was bad enough being the new kid, yet again, but even worse when she had to start at a new school right smack in the middle of the damn school year.  At least at the beginning, she could sneak in with the other new kids, but this way- one day the seat in the front row of Mrs. Thomas’ math class is empty, and the next filled with the new freak, it sucked donkey balls!

Cal walked the streets of downtown Boomington, the small, quaint shops lining either side of the street.  She didn’t stop in anywhere; it’s not like she had any money, and figured she’d wait a little until she got sticky fingers.  Didn’t want to get kicked out of this place as soon as the last one.  Eh, Barry Hughes and his wife were assholes, anyway.  It wasn’t like leaving that shit hole was a bad thing.  Even so, Cal still felt the sting.  This new place, Carl and April Marquez, and their son, Carl, Jr., and baby Grace, seemed like nice enough people, even if Gene was starting a friggin’ dynasty.  What the hell was with that, anyway?  Why not give the damn kid his own identity. 

Cal ran a gloved hand through her hair, making it stick up in a whole new direction, as she headed down an alley between Johnson’s Grocery and Heavenly Prayer Bookstore.  Gag!  A trash dumpster stood against the left brick wall, a pile of empty cardboard boxes the right.   With a well-placed kick, boxes exploded from their stacks, foam peanuts falling like shrapnel all around the alley.  Cal grinned at her handwork, walking backwards out of the alley as she watched the last box land, just next to the dumpster. 

About to turn around, the blonde almost cried out in surprise when she hit something very hard.  Turning, she saw she was standing eye to eye with man-boobs clothed in a deep purple polo shirt, the Heavenly Prayer Bookstore logo stitched on the left breast.  Eventually her eyes made their way up to angry blue eyes.

“So, you think it’s funny to destroy other people’s property, do you?”

“Hey, man, I was-“

“I saw exactly what you were doing!”  The man grabbed her by the collar of her denim jacket, shoving open the backdoor to the religious bookstore.  Cal found herself in the backroom, filled with shelves full of merchandise that needed to be stocked, as well as more empty boxes.  She flinched when something was thrust into her hand.  Looking down, she saw it was a broom.

”Fuck you!”  She tried to shove the broom back, but the man, who stood a good foot taller than she, clasped his hand around her fist, which still clutched the broom.

“Have some pride in yourself.  Go clean up that mess you made out there.”

Cal looked into his eyes, and for reasons she’d never understand, she simply swallowed her retort and headed back out to the alley.

“Come back here, you little bastards!” she growled as the alley turned a breeze into a raging tornado, swirling the light green peanuts around Cal’s legs, and to beat against her face like butterfly wings.  A loud belly laugh caught her attention.  Mr. Man-boobs stood at the open back door, amused at her plight.

“Hey, fuck off!  I’m just doing what you told me to do!”

“No, you’re doing what God told you to do.”

Cal could feel her ire raised.  She glared at the man. “Don’t even talk to me about God, mister.  You’ll lose.”

“it’s not a competition.  Here, let me help.”  He walked over to the teen, bending down with a large dustpan in his meaty hand, waiting for her to sweep peanuts into it.  With teamwork and a good deal of patience, they finally got it all cleaned up.  “Now, was that so bad?” he asked, patting Cal on the shoulder.  She moved out of his reach.

“You got some nerve, mister.  I could’ve had a gun or anything.”  She was feeling embarrassed, having been caught making her mess, and it came out in defiant anger.  Like always.  The man chuckled, making his second and third chin jiggle.

“Why don’t you come back tomorrow and clean up my storage room?  I’ll pay ya minimum.”

“Screw you, pal.  I don’t work for no Christian shit.  Sorry, wrong sucker.”  Cal thrust the broom back at the man, turning to head out of the alley.  She heard the man’s booming voice behind her. 

“Why aren’t you in school?”

“Fire alarm,” she called back, stepping out of the alley’s deep shade and back into the spring sunlight, carefully looking around to make sure no one had witnessed the peanut episode.

**

The Marquez house was quiet from the outside.  Cal had no idea the storm that was brewing on the inside.  She saw that Carl Sr.’s car was in the driveway.

“Shit.”

Hopping up onto the front porch, the blonde raised her hand, about to pull the screen door open when suddenly it was shoved open in her face, nearly knocking her to her ass.  April, dark eyes blazing, was in her face.

“Where have you been?”  Not given a chance to answer, Cal was yanked into the house, the entire family, plus her caseworker, waiting for her.  Double shit.  She felt like she had been presented in front of the firing squad.  Carl Sr. stepped forward, his son, who was in Cal’s grade, standing back with Cheryl, Cal’s caseworker.

“Where did you go, Callahan?  CJ looked all over for you after school, and you were nowhere to be found, then we find out from your fourth period teacher that you left to go to the bathroom and never returned!  What the hell were you thinking?”

“Carl,” Cheryl warned, worried things would get out of hand.  She knew how worried the Marquez’s had been, and didn’t ant to see that worry turn to anger of relief.  She’d seen it a thousand times.  Besides, she wasn’t sure if the skittish, and wildly rebellious Cal would even stand for it.  Walking over to the girl, whom she’d known since Cal was 4, she placed a calming hand on the girl’s arm.  She felt Cal stiffen underneath the touch.  “Cal, that was very irresponsible of you.  Anything could have happened.  You should have told someone you were leaving.”

Cal smirked, her eyes hard and wary.  “Oh, right, Cheryl.  Uh, gee, Mr. Hampton, I find your class fucking boring, mind if I go take a stroll for awhile?”  Green eyes rolled.

“You shouldn’t have left in the first damn place!” Carl Sr. interjected, his wife holding him back with a hand to his arm.  He pushed her away, heading into the kitchen.  “Told you she was a lost cause,” he muttered to her in passing.

Knowing that it didn’t help when the foster parent acted worse than the juvenile, Cheryl took hold of Cal’s arm, leading her to the front porch.  Cal held her anger in a tight chokehold, knowing Cheryl didn’t deserve the brunt.  The caseworker was the only person on the planet that the teenager trusted, though she’d never tell her that.

“Cal,” Cheryl continued, brushing a strand of red hair out of her eyes as she concentrated on her charge.  “why did you do that today?  It was really stupid.”

“I hate it here, Cheryl,” Cal muttered, looking out over the weed-infested yard.

“Hon, you’ve only been here for a month.”

Cal could feel the unfamiliar stinging behind her eyes.  She looked away from the older woman, not daring to let her see as Callahan tried to bring her emotions back to the vest.  “When am I don’t with this horse and pony show?” she asked at length.

“The day you turn 18, Cal.  You know that.  Please let me try and help you until then.  I’ve only got another year, and then I can no longer help.”

“You mean then I’m free.”

“No, I mean then you’re out of my care, and then I’ll have to stay up all night, worried sick about what kind of trouble you’ve found.”  Cheryl smiled softly, getting the ghost of one back from the teen sitting on the porch swing next to her.  “Kid, in thirteen years, you’ve already given me gray.  Don’t give me wrinkles before my time, too.  Okay?”

Cal nodded reluctantly.  “I’ll try harder.”

“Thank you.  They’re not bad people, Cal.”

“Yeah.  None of ‘em are, right Cheryl?” the blonde said, glaring at the redhead.

“Cal, that’s not fair.  I never would have placed you with the Hughes if we’d known.  How is everything?”

Cal shrugged out of the ever-present denim jacket, revealing the black tank top she wore beneath.  She ran a couple of fingers over scars that were newer than the rest- still red, and in angry circles.  Cheryl sighed heavily, wanting to cry at the sight.

“I’m so sorry, Cal.  I just didn’t know.”

Cal nodded, sliding her arms back into the sleeves of the jacket.  “Yeah, I know.  I still can’t look at cigars, though.”

Cheryl wrapped an arm around the blonde’s shoulders, tugging playfully in the only kind of hug Cal would allow.  “Hang in there, kiddo.  It has to get better, right?”

“If you say so.”

“I do.  I have to go.”  Cheryl stood, digging her car keys out of the pocket of her blazer.  Turning to the girl next to her, she looked into green eyes, aged far beyond her 17 years. “Chin up.”

Cal watched the caseworker walk down the cracked path that dissected the would-be lawn, then she waved over the top of her car before climbing in.  Cal stood, thumbs hooked into the front pockets of her jeans as she watched her drive away.

Cal glanced back at the house, and decided she wasn’t ready to go in and face the music, yet.  Instead, she walked out to the yard and around to the huge cottonwood rooted between the Marquez house and that of their neighbor.  A tire swing was mounted to a branch that was as thick as Cal was.  She slipped into the seat, lightly pushing off with booted feet as she slipped a cigarette from the stashed pack, lighting it.  She was amazed she was even able to smoke those, anymore.  If she thought real hard, she could still feel the hot sting of Hughes’ cigar, burning into her flesh.  She could still smell singed hair and burning skin.  The acrid smell could still tickle the inside of her nose, if she let it.

Tucking the smoke between the first two fingers of her left hand, Cal leaned back, allowing the tire and sturdy rope to take her weight, the blonde stared up into the cloudless day, the sky blue and pure.  Kind of like that girl’s eyes, she realized.  Cal allowed her mind to race off in the new direction, grateful to have something pleasant to add to her memories.  She closed her eyes, picturing the girl in the bathroom earlier.  She wondered if she smelled good- looked like she would.

Cal took another drag, blowing the smoke out in rings as she begin to spin slowly, the rope creaking slightly as the knot high above collided with itself.

What grade was she in?  How old was she?  Was she one of the rich girls?  Looked like it.  There were lots of them running around Boomington, to Callahan’s surprise.  Little shit town, would think it was mainly white trash, which in large part it was, but the outlying farmers and ranchers were loaded.  They had to ship their offspring in to become learned.

Cal grinned, thinking about all those rich kids, forced to slum it with kids like her.  Served ‘em right.

Soft footfalls across the weeds got Cal’s attention.  Opening her eyes, she was surprised to see April Marquez standing in front of her, the previous blaze in her eyes having burned down to a mere simmer.

“You really scared us today, Callahan,” she said softly, eyeing the cigarette between the blonde’s lips with disdain.  She shook her head sadly. “You don’t realize just young you are, and just how much damage you’re doing to yourself.”

“Spare me the lectures, April.  I fucked up today, and won’t do it again.  Okay?”

April wanted to be enraged by the smirk on the teen’s face, but for some reason, she couldn’t be.  There was something about Cal, something she liked.  Some sort of spark in her beautiful green eyes, that told April there was far more to her foster daughter than she might have thought before.

“I’m not going to badger you.  I’ve made my point.  Now come in and help me with dinner.”  She waited a moment, curious to see if Cal would follow her or not.  She should have figured she wouldn’t.  Without another word, the brunette headed inside.  “Don’t start my yard on fire!” she tossed back over her shoulder.

Cal remained on the swing for a moment, then with a heavy sigh, took one more, long drag from her cigarette, then smashed it against the tree before tossing it to the ground.

**

The halls were busy and obnoxious, as usual.  Paige shouldered her large bag as she headed toward her locker.  A loud roar met her ears, making her cringe, as she knew who it belonged to.  The guys that hung in her group were all gathered together, proving just how manly they were.  Paige rolled her eyes at the blatant overload of testosterone.  She stopped, watching as the crowd of boys slowly parted, and the brunette realized that there was someone slammed up against the lockers, and it wasn’t one of theirs.

“What’s going on?” she asked her friend, Lang, who was cheering on his friends.

“New chick, big ol’ dyke,” he said, as if that explained everything.

“What?” Paige elbowed her way deeper into the crowd, and realized that the “big ol’ dyke” was in a shoving match with Grant Ludlow, a linebacker on the football team, and biggest asshole Paige knew.

“Come on, freak!  Cry!” he was saying, the metallic BAM following as he shoved his quarry into the locker again. 

As Paige neared, she realized it was the girl from the bathroom a couple weeks ago.  Her blonde hair was sticking up at odd angles, and a small trickle of blood was at the corner of her mouth.  Green eyes were flashing danger, and with a tiger-like roar, she used all her body weight and rammed Grant, sending him sprawling into his buddies.

“Bitch!” Grant yelled, face flushed with embarrassment.  He raised a ham-sized fist, about ready to strike when Paige grabbed it in both of hers.  Startled, he looked to see who would dare interrupt.  “Not now, Paige.  I’ll talk to you later.”

“Grant, stop it,” the brunette said, glancing briefly at the blonde before turning back to the football player.  “Stop it.  You’re going to get into trouble.  I thought I saw Matthews coming,” she lied, desperate to stop things before they got really ugly.  Immediately the group began to disband, Grant looking around frantically for the loathed principal.  He turned back to Cal, a long finger pointed at her face. “We’re not done, you and me.”

“Fuck off, fat boy,” she growled, spitting a bit of blood at him.  He was about to pounce again when Paige all but body slammed him to get him to stop.  Pointing another finger, Grant shoved away from the brunette, storming down the hall to disappear in the throng of students.

Paige turned back to the blonde.  “You must have a death wish or something,” she muttered, incredulous.  “Jesus, you’re as bad as they are.”

Cal said nothing, only stared into those blue eyes, finally seeing them up close.  She took in the brunette’s expensive clothing and brand name backpack.  Without a word, she pushed off the locker and walked past her, surreptitiously taking a sniff as she did.  She does smell good.

“You’re welcome,” Paige muttered, watching the girl slam down an adjacent hall.

Cal felt her heart still racing, the blood hot in her veins as her anger continued.  Once she managed to find a hall with less traffic, she pulled her fist back and plowed it into a locker, denting the metal door.  She didn’t even feel her knuckle split as her adrenaline kept her emotions hazy, sensations dulled.

“Fuckers,” she growled, tears of humiliation threatening.  She quickly swallowed them down, whirling with a raised fist when someone tapped her on the shoulder.  CJ raised his hands in supplication.  Cal blew out a breath, taking a step back from her foster parents’ son.  “Sorry,” she muttered.

“You okay?  Saw what happened.”

“I’m fine.”

“Shake it off.  Those guys are assholes.”

“Yeah, thanks for the newsflash,” the blonde glared.  CJ shrugged indifference.

“See you around.”

She watched as he walked down the hall, disappearing up the stairs leading to the second floor.  Taking a few more deep breaths, the teen fought the urge to take off again, instead heading to her locker.  After all, she had promised Cheryl.

**

Paige looked at her reflection in the tiny mirror mounted on the inside of her locker door.  She applied some lipstick.

“Yeah, but come on, Paige, that wasn’t very smart.  You made Grant look stupid in front of that… girl,” Claire Hicks said, checking her own makeup.  Paige glanced at her friend.

“So what?  Claire, he was bullying her.  It was completely unnecessary.  And he’s a really big guy, and she’s a girl, for crying out loud!  What, in order to make himself feel big and bad he has to pick on girls, now?”

“What does it matter?  They always play with the mice.  That’s just the way it is.  Boys, you know?”

“Yeah,” Paige said, slamming her locker door shut. “Well, the ‘boys will be boys’ attitude is why they have gotten away with being assholes since the days of the cave man.”  She waited for her friend to fill her backpack with the books she’d need for homework.  Slamming her own locker shut, Claire kept pace with the brunette as they walked down the hall toward the main doors of the school.

“I think you’re over reacting, Paige.  She was just some punk, anyway.”

Paige sighed heavily, moving closer to her friend when a bunch of guys ran past them.  “Don’t you ever get tired of it, Claire?” she asked, sounding as tired as she felt.

“Tired of what?”

“The crap.  You know,” the brunette indicated the school around them. “All that’s expected, the posturing.  All of it.”  Paige felt her heart drop at her friend’s bewildered look.  “Never mind.  I’ll see you later.”

Paige walked to her car, unlocking the door and climbing into the BMW, a gift from her father last Christmas.  The gray leather interior creaked under her weight, and the brunette ran her hand over the steering wheel, feeling restless.  She looked around, noting as other students stood around and talked and laughed, or piled into cars.  Engines roared and loud music pulsed through the air.

With a heavy sigh, Paige started her own car, glancing in the side mirror, reaching through the open window to adjust it.  Keeping your car in a student parking lot, it was a given that you’d be readjusting mirrors daily.  As she put the mirror into the position she needed it to be, she noticed a large tree in the park across from the parking lot.  Squinting and leaning closer to the mirror, Paige tried to see if she saw what she thought she saw.  Turning to look over her shoulder, she indeed saw someone sitting in the branches.  A single booted foot could be seen swinging, the paleness of a face or hand through the dense spring foliage.

“Okay,” she muttered, turning back around and getting her car moving.

Cal Cullen blew out a lungful of smoke, watching with great interest as the girl, who she now knew was named Paige, climbed into her silver car.  She leaned her head against the trunk of the mighty tree to get a better view, eyes following the beautiful lines of her legs before they disappeared inside the Beemer.

“Paige,” she whispered, tasting the name on her lips, which still hurt like hell from earlier that morning.  Being shoved face-first into a locker certainly was painful.  Absently she flicked her tongue out over the small cut, which had stopped bleeding long ago.  The small shrill of pain raced through her jaw.  She did it again just for the sensation.

The brunette sat in her car for a few moments, but she was too far away for Cal to be sure what she was doing.  Finally the lights flicked to life as the car slowly backed out of its space, waiting for a couple kids to get out of the way before it could proceed out of the parking lot.  The right blinker flashed as Paige waited to turn onto the main strip, which would take her right by Cal’s tree.  The blonde watched with interest, tossing her cigarette butt down to the green grass below her.  She was more than surprised when Paige looked right at her as she passed.  Cal kept her gaze in that second, Paige’s blue eyes hidden behind her sunglasses.  Pity.

**

Callahan lay in her twin bed, arms tucked behind her head.  The ceiling above her was decorated in hundreds of tiny, glow-in-the-dark stars.  She tried to connect the dots, but instead found her mind wandering to another time, another place…

“Look, Cali, see the shooting star?”

The wide, green eyes of the 4 year old followed the mystery of the Heavens all the way across the dark, Texas sky.  It seemed so huge and endless to the bright child.

“I wonder where it landed,” Ty said, his voice dreamy.  His little sister, nine years younger than himself,  readjusted her head from where it was lying on his chest.  She raised a stubby arm, lone finger pointing to the stars.

“With Mommy and Daddy,” she whispered.

“Yeah.  With Mommy and Daddy.”

Cal swiped angrily at the lazy tear that dare try and make its way down her cheek.  She looked away from the stars, and instead focused on the crib that was against the opposite wall, a scant distance away.  Grace seemed to be sleeping soundly, lying on her stomach. 

The blonde teen got out of bed, walking over to the infant.  Her tiny hands were balled into fists, which rested up near her head.  Her puckered lips were slightly opened as tiny breaths of air were pushed out of her lungs, then pulled back in through the tiny, pug nose.

Cal reached over the crib rail, barely touching the silky soft hairs that covered the 6 month olds head.

“Lucky you,” she whispered.  “You got your whole life ahead of you, Grace.”  Removing her hand, she stared down at the sleeping babe for a few moments more.  When looking at Grace, she couldn’t help but wonder how differently her life may have ended up if her parents hadn’t died.  Would she be as beloved and taken care of as the baby?  Maybe.

Cal had very few memories of her mother, though remembered her father fairly well.  It seemed as though he had been around a lot more, though she couldn’t remember why.  Oh, but she did remember Ty.  Remembered everything about him- especially how much he loved his little sister.  They had spent every moment together, especially in that first foster home they went to.  That was before they tore the Cullen children apart. 

Cal felt her anger and despair growing, and decided she didn’t want to think.  Quickly shrugging into her jeans and boots, she opened the window, tossing her denim jacket out first, then climbed out after it.  Checking one last time on Grace to make sure the baby wouldn’t wake up and blow her cover, then hurried off into the night.

Boomington was, well, booming, on a Friday night.  Cal walked the cold streets, hands shoved deep into her pockets.  Cars raced by, kids shouting out the windows at each other and at innocent passersby.  The blonde was amused, flipping off a few cars that deemed her worthy of a verbal assault. 

After awhile Cal began to realize a lot of the cars were headed in the same general direction.  Curious, she began to head that way, too.

**

Music pounded through the house, the walls almost vibrating with it.  Alcohol was already beginning to flow freely, as well as a few other substances, liquid and powder.

Paige held her drink close to her chest, not one to typically drink, but she’d nurse it, anyway.  She wasn’t much in the mood to be there, but it was better than being at home.  Her father was home for a couple weeks- always reason to leave.

She excused herself from her date, Preston barely even noticing as she weaved her way through the throngs of excited party-goers, making her way to the bathroom.  Locking herself inside, Paige poured her drink down the sink, setting the plastic cup on the vanity.

Studying her reflection in the mirror, Paige ran her fingers through her long hair, which was down tonight, and adjusted her clothing.  She really should have met Preston at the party, then she’d have her car, and could leave when she wanted to- she wanted to.  She jumped, started as something, or someone, thumped against the other side of the bathroom door.  She rolled her eyes when she heard someone giggle.  Turning back to her inspection, Paige looked into her eyes, leaning in close.  They didn’t look as bloodshot as they had earlier, which was good.  Even so, the crying had made the blue irises stand out with electrifying clarity.

Sighing heavily, she decided she’d best join her friends.

**

Cal was glad to get out of the cold, looking around at the inebriated peers around her.  Some guy handed her a beer, which she gratefully began to guzzle, closing her eyes as the cool liquid slid down her throat.  She allowed herself to relax as the music pounded into her head, making it bob ever so slightly as she walked further into the party, eyes ever watchful.  She knew these were the rich popular kids.  The huge house with even nicer toys parked in the drive and along the street.  Old families, rich families, were in Bloomington.  Ranchers and farmers. 

“Shit kickers,” she muttered, tossing her finished beer bottle to the floor and grabbing another from the huge bucket of ice sitting in the middle of the living room floor.  Most of the party-goers were too far gone to realize she didn’t belong there, but there were a few who were still on their game.

She wandered into what looked to be a recreational room- pool table in the corner, huge entertainment center at the back of the room.  People were sprawled over every bit of furniture and much of the floor space.  It looked as though a drinking game of some sort was going on.

Paige sat reclined against the base of the couch, watching her friends make absolute jackasses out of themselves as they played a warped version of truth or dare- take a dare, or take a drink.  Everyone was getting drunker and the dares more ridiculous.

“Aren’t you going to play?” Claire asked, plopping down next to her friend.  Her clothing reeked of pot and alcohol. 

“No,” Paige sighed, resting her head against her friend’s shoulder.  “I just want to go home.”

“Eh, let yourself go now and then, Paige.  It’s a great party.”

Paige was saved from having to respond by the commotion in the game.  She and Claire followed the noise, shocked to see the blonde punk from the hall leaning against the doorway.

“What the fuck is she doing here?” Grant asked, still stung by the bitch getting the best of him at school.

“Either that girl is brave or suicidal,” Claire muttered.

Paige ignored her as she fixed her eyes on the blonde, who looked for all the world like she belonged where she stood.  Her attention was ripped away from the cocky punk when she saw Grant getting to his feet.  He stopped when a hand wrapped around his arm.  Looking down, he saw Paige’s blue eyes boring into his.

“Grant, stop.  This isn’t the time.  Leave her alone.”

“That bitch made me look stupid, Paige,” her growled.

“No, Grant, you made yourself look stupid.  Leave her alone.”

Grant knew somewhere in his pickled brain that Paige was right, so he decided on another trek.  Paige wanted to make him feel like an ass, fine.  He could repay the favor.

“Hey, freak,” he called out.  Disinterested green eyes met his gaze.  “Wanna play a game?”

“Not really,” Cal said, slowly sipping her beer, eyes never leaving Grant.

“What if I get our friend, here to play, too?” he challenged, placing a hand on Paige’s thigh.  She glared at him.  “Come on, Paige.  Play.  What’s wrong with a little truth or dare?”

“Because I don’t want to play,” the brunette said simply, taking Grant by a finger and removing his hand, dropping it unceremoniously onto his own lap.

A round of “Ooooooooh,” filled the room, everyone’s attention drawn by the growing tension.  Cal watched Paige’s antics, amused.  Girl’s got guts. 

“Don’t start,” Paige muttered, low enough so only Grant to hear.

“No, I think it’s already been started.”  Grant turned to the room for all to hear.  “I dare Paige to take the freak into the closet for one entire minute.”  A few snickers followed his declaration.

“Grant, stop this!  You’re drunk.”

“That may be, but you’ve been dared.”

“I don’t give a shit.”

“What, are you a coward?”

Cal rolled her eyes, as did Paige. “Oh, please, Grant.  My brain isn’t floating around in testosterone.  That crap doesn’t work with me.”  Paige rose to her feet, preparing to leave.  Grant also stood.  Though Cal kept her casual stance, her body began to tense, readying itself for trouble.

“Fine.  Then show us you don’t think that bitch is any more of a freak than the rest of us do.  Come on, Paige.  Show us, because deep down, I know you think she’s a piece of trash punk.  Just like the rest of us.”

Cal felt her blood begin a slow boil, her jaw clenching the only outward sign.  She watched Paige carefully, curious as to what the brunette would say or do.  The thought no sooner out of her brain and blue eyes met electric green.  Cal watched as Paige made her way over to her, grabbing her hand in a firm, warm one, and nearly yanking the blonde off her feet as Paige led them to the closet.

A hush raced through the room as all eyes watched them, all the way until the door was closed behind them.

It was dark in the closet, only a bit of light shining in through the crack under the heavy wood. The space was small and hot, the coats hanging pushed the girls toward each other.

“So now what?” Cal asked, amusement in her voice.

“No clue.  I’m sorry Grant is such a-“

“Hey!  Too much talking in there!” Grant growled from the other side of the door.  Laughter could be heard from deeper in the room.  Cal’s amusement grew as she could almost feel Paige’s discomfort.  They were standing close enough for the blonde feel the gentle breath of her companion. 

As Cal’s eyes began to adjust to the darkness, she studied Paige, up close and personal.  The brunette was far more gorgeous than she could ever imagine.  She could feel a slow burn sprouting in her belly, and before she could think, she reached a hand up, cupping Paige’s soft cheek, and leaned in. 

Paige started at the feel of soft lips touching her own, Cal’s cool hand keeping her gently in place.  So stunned was she by the action, Paige couldn’t think to push the blonde away.

Feeling bolder by the second, Cal tilted her head slightly, teasing Paige’s lips with her own, feeling their softness, how well they fit with her own.  All too quickly it was gone when Cal felt a firm hand on her chest.

“No,” Paige said, her voice soft.

“Time’s up, you two,” someone banged on the closet door.

“Time’s up,” Cal repeated, then Paige was suddenly bathed in light as the blonde stepped out of their temporary prison, leaving her stunned and alone.

Cal, undeniable smirk on her face, sauntered out of the party, headed back home.

**

The halls were busy, as per usual at the end of the day.  Callahan loaded some books into her backpack when she heard a familiar voice laughing, and coming toward her.  Glancing to her left, sure enough, there was Paige, with one of her friends.  She had no idea what the beauty was talking about, nor did she care.  All that mattered to her was that Paige looked at her, ever so briefly, but then she quickly hurried past the blonde.

Regardless of how brief and how G rated the kiss may have been, it still happened, and Cal enjoyed thinking about it often.  Even getting busted climbing back in the window when April had been nursing Grace had been worth it.

With a grin, Cal finished up at her locker and slammed it shut.

Spring was certainly in full swing, and it was gorgeous.  Callahan even had a bit of a spring in her own step as she wandered the streets of downtown Boomington.  She walked past a jeweler’s shop and stopped, looking a beautiful pair of earrings in the window display.  Immediately Paige’s image came before her eyes, the earrings dangling from delicate ears.

Cal shook herself from her ridiculous sappy thoughts and moved on.  Besides, those earrings’ $99 price tag was $98.50 more than she had.  She continued on, noting the Christian bookstore just up ahead.  She was about to speed up, but for some reason, stopped at the door, held open by a large rock.

The store wasn’t all that big: a bullpen was set up in the middle of the room with glass case frontings and a register.  The three walls that weren’t door or large windows, were filled with shelves of books and religious merchandise.  A few waist-high shelving units held more.

“So, the wayward daughter returns.”

Cal was startled by the massive mountain of a man, who stepped out from a doorway filled with a beaded curtain.  His smile was kind, though his eyes told her he was in no mood for nonsense.

“Either Jesus is nine feet tall, or my Sunday school teacher lied to me,” Cal cracked, eyeing the man’s beard.  He chuckled, low and deep in his throat.

“Blaspheme, child.  Come in.  Or will my store suddenly combust?” he challenged. 

“I don’t know.  It might.”  Cal took a wary step inside, looking around, not bothering to hide her disdain.

“Judge not lest ye be judged,” the store keep warned, stocking a handful of books on a shelf.  Duly chastised, Cal allowed her curiosity to take over.  She fondled a few things, grazing the back of a few books, putting several back within a few words when she already saw the condemnation coming.  She held one such volume up.

“So, are you saying then that this Dobson fella shouldn’t live in a glass house?”

“Touché, my young friend.  What can I help you with?  I’m afraid I’m all out of boxes for you to destroy.”

Cal’s grin was sheepish.  “Yes, well…” she put the book in its place, doing her damndest to not shove it in there so hard the book would be destroyed.  “You talked last time about needing some help around here…”  She risked a glance at the big man.  He was watching her carefully, but said nothing. “That still true?”

“Do you want it to be true?” he countered, resting a huge hand on the glass top of the counter.

“Do you pay?”

“If you’ll earn.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.  Be here this time tomorrow, and no earlier.  I don’t want you skipping any classes.”

Cal smirked.  It’ll take a lot more than you, buddy, to stop that.  She turned, ready to head out when she stopped, glancing at the big man over her shoulder. “You won’t convert me, you know.”

The man smiled kindly.  “Nor will I try.”

“Okay.  Just so we have an understanding.”

**

The next two weeks went by swiftly.  Cal told no one about her new job, except April, so she wouldn’t get busted again for not coming home after school.  To say that her foster mother was thrilled was an understatement.  Her boss, Max Thickland, was okay, too.  True to his word, never once did he mention religion or the blonde’s lack of.  It was strictly business, or he’d ask about school on occasion.

“This is your senior year this year, correct?” he asked, reading glasses balanced precariously on his nose as he went over the books.  Callahan busied herself with unpacking a shipment of the new Joyce Meyer book that had just come in.

“Yep.  In theory,” she said absently, comparing the number of books actually received with the shipping label.

“Will you graduate?”

“In theory.” 

Max set his pen down, looking at his young charge.  “Are you graduating or not?”

Suddenly feeling uncharacteristically shy, Cal shrugged, fingering the cover of one of the books.  “I don’t know.  High school has been… interesting, for me.”

“Hmm,” the big man grunted.  “That’s too bad.”  He could sense the girl’s discomfort, so left it at that.  Besides, the bells over the door out in the store let them know their conversation was over.  He didn’t have to look up to know Cal was long gone, heading to help their customer.

To say that Paige was shocked to see Cal stepping out front, Heavenly Prayer Bookstore apron in place, would be a gross understatement.  The blonde looked completely out of place with her jeans, the right leg of which had a hole big enough to show her knee, and her crazy, blonde hair.  She could tell the other girl was just as surprised to see her.

“Well, look who’s here, and the place hasn’t burned down.”

“Yet,” Cal smirked, to cove r her suddenly discomfort.  She tried not to focus on the brightness of Paige’s blue eyes, or the way her hair gleamed under the store lights.  She tried not to notice the way the brunette’s shirt hugged her body, caressing her breasts.  She also didn’t think she was all that successful.

“Yet.  Off course.  What are you doing here?” Paige asked, stepping up to the bullpen, where Cal had entered through the small, swinging gate.

“What are you doing here?” the blonde deadpanned.

“My grandmother is religious.”

“I’m sorry.”  Cal smirked at the glare she got.  “I work here,” she pointed to her nametag.

“Kinda figured.  Somehow I didn’t think you ran around to various businesses and collected their aprons and nametags.”

“Actually, you caught me.  Later today I’ll be going into Wal-Mart and stealing one of their fancy blue vests.”

Paige giggled despite the fact that she really didn’t want to like this girl.  Cal was utterly charmed.

“So, do you always crash other people’s parties, Callahan Cullen?”

Cal covered her surprise at Paige knowing her name with a question of her own. “Do you always grab total strangers and tug them into the closet, Paige-I-haven’t- asked-around-about-your-last-name, yet.”

Again, Paige was blushing, but she quickly cleared her throat. “Do you always answer questions with one of your own?”

“Do you?” Cal challenged, loving this game.

Paige burst into laughter, shaking her head.  “You are really crazy.”

“You have no idea.  And I wanted a beer.  That party seemed a good place to get one, and I was right.”

“Well, Grant was being an asshole, and he made me mad.”

“Ah.”  That explained it all.  Looking at Paige, standing in front of her, Cal couldn’t help but think of their kiss.  Well, more like her kiss.  She wasn’t all that sure just how returned it was.  Even so, she wasn’t going to apologize for it.

“Well, anyway, I’m here in search of a gift.  Do you have the newest Joyce Meyer book?  My grandmother eats up that inspirational stuff.”

“Yeah.  Hang on.” 

Paige felt her heart rate return somewhat to normal when the blonde headed into the backroom of the store.  She always felt so nervous around Cal, and even worse now that Cal had figured out that, indeed, Paige had asked around to find out what her name was.  But it only makes sense, right?  Some random girl kisses her, she has a right to know what her dang name is!

Paige was pulled from her thoughts when Callahan returned, holding the hardback out, then snatching it back when the brunette reached for it.  Confused, Paige met mischievous green eyes.

“What will you give me for it?” Cal asked, a honey colored brow raised.  Paige stared at her, mouth open slightly in surprise.

“What do you want for it?” she asked slowly, cautious.

“That’s not what I asked.”  Cal hugged the book to her chest.  “What will you give me for it?”

Paige swallowed, feeling her cadence pick up again.  “What the store price is?”

“That’s all I needed to know,” Cal said softly, sliding the book across the counter.  She grinned at the flush that covered Paige’s cheeks.

“You are so strange,” Paige muttered, snatching the book before it could be taken away again.

**

Prom season was approaching, and the buzz was in the air.  Paige and her mother, Bernie, were out looking for the perfect dress.

“I still don’t understand why you won’t just let one be designed for you,” the older woman said, disdain on her delicate features as she took in the dresses around them.

“Because I’m not getting married, Mother,” Paige said, fingering the soft material of one of the garments.  “I’m only going t be wearing it once.”

“So?  You’d only wear your wedding dress once, too.  Besides, my dear, prom night may be the night you snag the man that may be your future husband.  Whatever happened to that boy you were with last year?  Oh, what was his name… his father owned the oil fields…”

“Scott.”

“Yes!  Scott.  What happened with him?”

“He went off to West Point, Mother.  Right after he graduated.  Remember?  The party his parents threw for him?”

“OH, that’s right.  Too many parties,” Bernie laughed, light and delicate, as was appropriate.  Paige turned away, rolling her eyes.  She didn’t even want to go to prom, but knew it was either this, or her mother would throw her a good old fashioned Coming Out party.  God, she hated the bullshit.

“Who are you going with this year?”

Paige dreaded the question, but she knew it was coming.  She walked over to a display of shoes, picking one up and examining it.  Mainly for something to do.  “I don’t have a date yet, Mother.”

“What?  Surely you’ve been asked?”  Bernie was stunned!  Her beautiful daughter, and no one had asked?  Not a chance of that happening.

“I didn’t say I wasn’t asked.  I just haven’t accepted any invites, yet.”

“Any why not?  There are some fine boys at your school, Paige, from some fine families.”  Bernie turned her daughter so she was looking at here.  Paige was the spitting image of what Bernie had been at her age, though she had much lighter hair than her daughter,, who took on her father’s darker features, other than her eyes, of course.  Those ran in the Van Cleef family.  “I met your father at a school function, you know.”

“And look how that turned out.”

Bernie was stunned, her cheeks enflaming.  “He’s been a good provider for us, Paige.  You’ve never wanted for anything.  Your father is just… hard.”

Paige said nothing.  They’d had the argument a million times, and she never got anywhere.  Basically, what Bernie had taught her was that marrying old money, and staying in old money, meant you put up with regular beatings and verbal venom.  Not for her.  She wanted more for herself than that.  Mainly love.  Just for once, someone to love her for who she was, and not the family she came from.  Her whole life, Paige had felt like cattle at auction, her mother presenting her to the affluent community as such.  She couldn’t wait to escape, even if it meant going off to the college her parents had chosen for her, and paid her way in next fall.  She had no desire to go to Wellington in England.  She knew that here every move would be watched, her future planned out, yet again.  Even so, it was escape.

The afternoon wore on, mother saying very little to daughter as Bernie was a champion grudge-holder.  Paige was fine with it; at least she didn’t have to enter into idle chit-chat that she hated so much.  Her seven hundred dollar prom dress was safely bagged and loaded into their town car, and it was time to go home.  Thank the lord!

**

 

“Crap.”  Cal hurried over to the sink to grab the dishtowel, then over to the stove to clean up where the spaghetti sauce had boiled over.  “Damn Wheel of Fortune,” she muttered, grimacing as the rag quickly became a red, slimy mess.

“What the hell happened?” Carl Marquez, Sr. barked, coming in through the kitchen door, work shirt in hand.

“Had a little accident,” Cal said quietly, rinsing out the rag to return and mop up more of her mess.

“Jesus Christ, Cal!  You’re wasting fucking food!  That shit isn’t cheap, you know?  Even the pittance we get for you isn’t enough.”

Cal felt a cold trickle begin to run down her spine.  She’d seen enough men like Carl in her life.  Me like that were ticking time bombs.  She tried to think of a way to defuse it. “Sorry, Carl.  It won’t happen again.”

Carl raced across the room, getting in his unwanted foster daughter’s face.  “You’re damn right it won’t happen again.  It’s no secret I don’t want you here, Cal.  I got enough to deal with, with two kids of my own.  You watch your step, or you’re out the door.  You got me?”

The blonde nodded, numb.  She looked down at her boots as Carl stormed out of the kitchen.  She felt a slight hitch in her throat, but held it down.  She couldn’t let him see how he made her feel.  Never could anyone see it.

“Fuck you, Carl,” she whispered, turning back to the stove.  Quiet footsteps entered the kitchen, but Cal didn’t bother to turn to see who it was.  She didn’t care.  She flinched as a hand rested on her shoulder.

“Let me do that,” April said, gently taking the dishrag from Cal’s shaking hand.  Why don’t you go and put Grace down for bed.”

Without a word, Cal nodded and took the groggy baby from her mother’s arms.  Upstairs, in the darkness of their room, Cal looked at the beautiful face of the precious child in her arms, sitting in the rocking chair April used when she was nursing.  The infant looked up at her through bleary eyes, which got heavier and heavier.

“You’ve got so much ahead of you, Grace,” Cal whispered, bringing up a hand and touching the silky softness of the baby’s face and hair.  She rocked gently, Grace quickly giving up on the day and drifting off into baby dreamland.  Cal continued to rock, resting her head back against the chair as she stared off into space.  Her voice was soft as she spoke.  “My big brother used to hold me like this, Grace.  See, he was so much older than me, he used to protect me and rock me.  He was my hero.  You’re lucky to have a big brother, too.  Though CJ doesn’t seem much the rockin’ type.”  She smiled ruefully, glancing off toward the window and the evening sky beyond.  The sun was just starting to give its notice for the day.

She was surprised to hear a soft knock on the doorframe to the bedroom.  April leaned against it, stepping inside when she saw she had Cal’s attention.

“Hey,” she said, sitting on the edge of Cal’s bed, hands folded in her lap.  “How are you doing?”

Cal shrugged, non-committal.  Yeah, April had been nice, but at least one of them was usually nice.  Never stopped the crap, though.

“Max has been checking in with both me and Cheryl.  He says you’re doing really well, even if you did call an irate patron the anti-Christ.”  They both chuckled at that.

“Yeah, well he looked like it.”

“Well, at any rate, I’m proud of you.  You’ve done well for yourself, Cal, and you should be proud, too.”

“Thanks.”  The blonde tried to not let it mean anything to her, but it was hard.  Praise was so rare that when it did come, she was like a thirty man finding water.

“Did she give you any trouble?” April asked, nodding toward her daughter.  Cal shook her head.

“No.  I’d been sitting for about four point three seconds before she conked.”  The teen stroked the baby’s hair.

“Not surprised.  She seems to have really taken to you.”

“Good thing, I guess, since she’s stuck with me in here.”  Cal met April’s dark gaze.

April pushed to her feet, setting hand on Cal’s shoulder.  “You’re a good egg, Callahan, and don’t let anyone tell you different.  And, you’re wanted here.  Okay?”

Cal nodded, unable to keep April’s gaze.  When she was left alone, she sighed heavily, continuing to rock the bundle of innocence in her arms.  It was only then that she felt truly clean.

**

Cal was startled by the sudden shrill alarm, her hand jerking and drawing a line all the way across the page of her assignment.

“Shit.”

“Come on, people, out the gym doors,” Mr. Hines instructed.  The class began to pour out of the door into the halls to meet the other classes.  Cal hated fire drills, and refused to leave her stuff there.  She gathered it all up, against school fire-alarm policy.  “Come on, Cullen, hurry it up,” the teacher called, unable to leave until every student was out.  Cal hurried to catch up, then joined the flow.

It was almost April, and a nice, warm day.  The sun was bright, clouds scattered.  Once they had reached the soccer fields, she looked around, curious to see who all was there.  Nah, that’s a big, fat lie.  She was looking for Paige, whom she hadn’t spoken to since that day the brunette had shopped at the bookstore, three weeks ago.  She saw a few of the people in Paige’s crowd, but had yet to see her.

“So, did you pull it?”

Cal whipped around, startled at the voice to her right.  Paige grinned, Cal rolled her eyes.

“As much as I’d like to claim credit, I was being a good girl in math.”

“You have it in you to be good?”

“The bookstore still hasn’t burned down, so someone must think so.”

Paige chuckled, then began to move on.  “See you around.”

“Later.”  Ohhhh, and how Cal enjoyed watching her go.  She watched as Paige joined up with all of her friends.  The brunette stood out amongst the beautiful people, somehow.  There was something about her that none of the others could even begin to pray to be- a certain glow, certain specialness. 

As Cal watched, Paige turned around, shading her eyes, as she seemed to be looking for something… or someone.  The brunette’s attention fell on Cal, and she raised a hand in greeting.  Cal waved back, then had to look away, suddenly feeling very shy.  When she chanced a glance a moment later, Paige was nowhere in sight.

**

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay?” CJ asked, looking over at his ‘date’.  Cal nodded.

“Quite.”

“Okay.  Well, uh, I guess come back around midnight and I’ll tell you where I’m at.  That way my mom won’t know.  I mean, she did spring for you suit and all.”

Cal looked down at herself- black women’s suit, however the jacket was unbuttoned, the shirt collar open, as well.  “Yeah.  Have fun, CJ.  See you at midnight.”

Her foster brother climbed out of the car, tossing the keys at her.  “Later.”

Cal parked the car, then found herself a tree.  She didn’t want her suit to smell like smoke if she could avoid it.  Finding herself a nice, sturdy branch, Cal got settled, ready to watch the monkeys and penguins.  The only reason she had agreed to April’s crazy plan of going as CJ’s date was because she didn’t want to hurt the woman’s feelings.  April had been good to her, and she knew that her foster mother wanted good things for her.  This, however, in Cal’s opinion was not a good thing.

Lighting the tip of her smoke, she shook out the match before tossing it, then let the show begin.  Limousines showed up by the dozen- black ones, white ones.  Even a blue one.  From the traditional to the stretched Hummer, they all lined up.  Cal stuck around because she had eyes for only one, and wanted to see how she looked.  Undoubtedly Paige would be there.

It didn’t take long, and Cal wasn’t surprised.  A guy that the blonde recognized from Paige’s group, stepped out of a stretched town car, and held out his hand.  Her diamond bracelet caught the well-lit drive of the expensive hotel, where the prom was being held.  Next came a shapely leg, then two, then all of Paige. 

“Wow,” Cal breathed, cigarette forgotten. 

The brunette looked stunning in a fitted dress, her shoulders and back bare in the halter-top.  The color was dark, either black or a dark blue.  Her dark hair was piled atop her head, diamonds dangling from her ears and around her neck.  Her date placed his hand low on her back, just above her ass.  Cal could feel her blood boil, but cooled when she saw Paige reach behind her, removing his hand, and placing it at an appropriate level.  “Okay, so that’s not a boyfriend.”

Cal watched until they disappeared inside, then sighed, closing her eyes as the memory came t her mind’s eye once more.   Jesus, that girl is gorgeous!  She sighed, then hopped down.  She’d drive around for awhile then come back.

**

Paige was polite, thanking those who said she looked good.  She felt good, but had a heavy heart.  Dirk had asked her to go to the prom last, so she finally said yes.  Her father made it very clear she had no other option.  So, here she was, and she didn’t even consider Dirk much of a friend, let alone date material.  He certainly was a Mr. Grabby Hands, and she’d already had to smack them away a few times. 

Paige’s eyes kept sweeping the ballroom, looking to see who had shown up, and perhaps, who hadn’t.  She had yet to see a familiar blonde head.  She was curious to see what Cal would wear to something like this, after all, it didn’t seem much like the blonde’s cup of tea.  She did, however, see the guy she’d seen the punk with from time to time.  She knew his name was CJ Marquez, but that was all.  Were they dating?  Siblings?  She had no idea.  Though she was tempted to ask him where Cal was.

“Hey, baby, let’s dance.”

“Don’t call me baby, Dirk.  I told you this was a one-time deal.”

“Jesus, PMSing or what?”  He was taken aback.  He hadn’t thought Paige was such a bitch, but guess he was wrong.  Damn.  Looks like he may lose a hundred bucks.

As the night went on, Paige started to feel more and more like she was suffocating.  She smiled and she looked like she was having a ball, but inside, she was screaming.  She kept eyeing the doors to the ballroom, wishing so badly she had the courage to make a run for it.  The problem is, she may never stop.

“Hey, let’s get something to eat,” Dirk said, trying a different tactic.  He was surprised when Paige gave him no grief, and meekly nodded.

**

Cal was finishing her coffee as she pulled up in the hotel drive again, glancing over at the building to make sure CJ wasn’t standing outside or anything.  It was only after ten, but just in case.  He was, after all, doing her the favor but letting her off the hook.  She was about to pull away from the curb when the double doors exploded out, and a very upset Paige appeared.

Immediately on high alert, Cal stepped out of the car.  “Paige!” she called, the brunette turning at her name.  If Cal weren’t so worried, she would have been amused at the shocked look on Paige’s face.

“Can you please drive me home?” Paige asked as she neared.

“Yeah, of course.”  Cal hurried around the car to the passenger side, opening it as Paige gathered her dress to get in.  She almost whispered her ‘thank you’.  Cal trotted around the front of the car, slipping behind the wheel.  She looked at her companion.  “What’s your address?”

Paige turned sad blue eyes to her.  “Can we maybe just drive for a little while?”

“Sure.”  Cal put the car in gear and headed out.  They were silent for a long time, Cal taking random roads and routs, glancing over at her passenger from time to time.  She was getting worried that something really bad had happened in there.  She cleared her throat. “Did something happen, Paige?”

“Nothing I should have gotten so upset over,” the brunette answered softly.  She sighed, looking over at Cal.  “He grabbed my butt and tried to kiss me.  It upset me.”

“As it should’ve!  Want me to kick his ass for you?”

Paige smiled. “Why do I get the feeling that you’re serious in that question?”

“Because I am.  I’d be happy to fuck him up.”  Cal gripped the steering wheel tighter, her jaw muscles working.  She was surprised when she felt a soft touch on her knee.  She looked down at Paige’s hand, then over at Paige.

“Thank you, but no.  It’s not necessary.  Can’t say that I’m surprised, anyway.  I knew Dirk was an asshole.”

“So why did you go with him?”

Paige opened her mouth to answer, but snapped it shut.  “Long story.  I don’t really want to go into it now.”

Cal nodded.  She totally understood about secrets.  The silence continued until Paige broke it.

“So, why are you dressed up with nowhere to go?”  She eyed Cal’s suit.  “It’s nice to see you in something that isn’t littered with holes.”

“I like my natural ventilation, thank you.”  She shrugged, keeping her eyes on the dark road ahead. “My foster mom wanted me to go.  I didn’t want to.  We both got the best of both worlds.”

“She thinks you did, so she’s happy, but you didn’t, so you’re happy…”

“You got it.”

“Foster mom?”

Cal cringed.  Here we go.  “Yeah.  April.”

“Is that your foster brother then, CJ Marquez?  I’ve seen you with him before.  Didn’t seem like a boyfriend-type of arrangement.”

“Yep.”

“Where are your parents?”

“Dead.”

“I’m sorry, Callahan.”

“Cal.  And it’s okay.”

“Do you miss them?  Cal.”

The blonde shook her head with a shrug. “I don’t remember them.  It happened when I was very young.”  Cal turned off on an abandoned road.  Paige took in the scenery, not sure where they were, but continued.

“So, you’ve been a ward of the state all this time?”

“Yeah.”  Cal was starting to get uncomfortable, the feeling showing in her tensing jaw muscles.  “Me and my brother, Ty.”

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know.  We were together for the first year, then we got split up.  Haven’t seen him since.”

“When-“

“Paige.  Can we please talk about something else?”  Cal turned pleading eyes to her companion, not wanting to jump down her throat for her curiosity. 

“Sure.  I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.  I just don’t like talking about it.  Here we are!”

The car’s headlights shone onto the trunk of a huge tree.  Beyond it were the lights of Boomington, twinkling like the brightest of stars.

“Oh, wow,” Paige breathed, opening her door and stepping out into the warm night.  “Where are we?”

“Well, if it was day time, you’d see the old Shriner Mill behind us.  I found this place a few weeks ago.”

“Cal, it’s beautiful.”  Paige stepped toward the edge, daring to look own.  Cal followed, hands buried sheepishly into the pockets of her pants.

“Careful,” she said softly, knowing that the fall was beyond steep, and quite deadly.  She was relieved when Paige took a step back.

“Let’s sit for awhile,” Paige suggested.

“Okay.”  Cal stopped the brunette just before she sat, shedding her jacket and lying it on the ground.  “That dress looks expensive.”

Paige smiled, thinking that one of the sweetest things anyone ever did for her.  She made herself comfortable on the jacket, sliding her feet out of her heels, and setting them aside.  She stretched her legs out, allowing her skin to breathe in the wonderful night.  “It’s really nice out here.  Though, I have to say, I think it would be scary as hell alone.”

“Nah.  Not too bad,” Cal said, pulling her legs up and wrapping her arms around them.

“You come here alone?”

“Who else would I come with?”

Paige shrugged.  “I don’t know.  CJ, maybe?”

“Nah.  We’re not close.  We talk during the day mainly to find out when the other is leaving.  The only one I’ve really bonded with in this family is the 6 month old baby.”

Paige chuckled.  “I can’t imagine you with a child.”

“Why not?  Kids are cool.  They’re so uncomplicated.  They accept you for you.”

Callahan said so much in that one simple statement, and as Paige studied her profile, she felt a sadness enter her heart.  There was so much melancholy in Cal; it flowed off her in waves.  She had so many questions for the blonde, but had the feeling she had to play it safe, or Cal would run.

Cal, for her part, was trying to get her heart under control.  She could never have guessed this situation would have happened when she woke up that morning.  She decided to ask a few questions of her own.

“So, you’re not dating Dirk, that much I know.   Why don’t you have a boyfriend?”  She turned her head, resting her cheek on her knees.

“I had one.  He went off to military school last year.  I don’t know,” Paige shrugged her bare shoulders, catching Cal’s eye.  “Guess I just didn’t really look for another one.”

“Why not?”

“Truthfully?”  Paige continued at Cal’s nod.  “I don’t know.  It, … when I started dating him, it was never for me in the first place.  See, I come from parents who don’t believe in love, but instead in an investment.  My father always says that your best investment is not in your house, but your marriage.”  She scrunched up her face in distaste.  “I don’t know.  That just seems so, I don’t know, cold to me.  I don’t want that for myself.”

“It is cold.”

“Glad to know I’m not the only one.  Everyone in my life, friends and family, think I’m wrong.  I’ve always felt I’m defective, or something.  It’s nice to have some validation.”

Cal almost swooned at the smile she got.  Instead she returned it.

“I was relieved, really, when he went off to West Point.  I could walk away from it without hearing it from everyone.”  She rolled her eyes.  “Gets so old.”

“Lot of pressure?”

“Tons.  Sometimes I feel like I’m stuck in some novel, or something.  You know, one of those historical pieces, like Victorian era.  Smothering.”

“I’m sorry, Paige.”

Paige mirrored Cal’s position, sighing as she looked into green eyes.  “Not your fault.”

“You know, it’s funny.  Ironic, actually.”

“What’s that?”

Cal raised her head, looking out over the town.  The eye contact was too intense for her.  “I have too many choices, and you too few, yet it seems to get us both in trouble.”

Paige smiled full out.  If Cal had been looking at her, she would have been blinded.  She studied the blonde, watching as the small amount of moonlight there was caught pieces of blonde hair.  The way the light caressed Cal’s profile, the way it seemed to puddle on her lips.

“Cal?” she asked, voice soft, and sounding before she even had a chance to think about what she was asking.

“Yeah?”  Cal met her gaze, following as Paige raised her head.

“Why did you kiss me?”

Here we go.  “Truth?”

“Truth.”

“Because I wanted to.  I knew I would never get another chance.”

Paige studied her, allowing the information to absorb and process.  “So, you’d thought about it before, then?”

“Yeah.  I had.”

“Why?”

Cal smiled, taken aback.  “What do you mean, ‘why’?”

“Simple.  Why did you want to kiss me?”

“Because you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”  Cal shrugged, her casual countenance belying her pounding heart. 

“Thank you.”  Paige whispered it so softly Cal barely heard it.  “Do you take chances very often?”

Cal smirked, nodding. “Yeah.  Too often.”

“Brave, or foolish?”

“Well, you tell me.  After all, you were one of my chances taken.”

Paige chuckled, staring back out over the town.  Se could almost feel the heat coming from the blonde sitting to her left.  “A little of both, I’d say.”  She was silent for a moment.  Then, “How often do you take them?  Chances.”

“As often as I can.  We only get one shot at life.”

“Do you want to take another one right now?”

Cal looked at her, uncertainty making her heart skip.  She met Paige’s profile, noting the girl refused to meet her gaze.  “Now?”

Paige looked down at the diamond bracelet her mother had given her for the night, watching it wink in the moonlight.  She nodded.  “Come on, Callahan, chances don’t come along every day.”  When finally she had the courage to meet Cal’s eyes, she gasped softly.  There was so much intensity in those green eyes it was scary, and it was all focused on her.

Cal studied her, trying to see if Paige was saying what she thought she was saying.  The brunette was not giving up her secrets.  The blonde decided to go with her gut. 

Paige felt her heart speed up when Cal cupped her cheek, the skin warm and soft.  She felt her eyes becoming heavy as the blonde leaned in, then back slightly, just enough to show Paige what her intentions were, and to give her the opportunity to stop it.  When Paige didn’t, Cal brushed her lips against those that were just as soft as she remembered.  She went back for another pass, this time, she pressed in a bit, thrilling when she felt Paige respond.

Paige couldn’t believe she was allowing to happen what was happening.  Hell, not just allow it, but asking for it!  She leaned into Cal’s touch, feeling so safe in it, so beautiful.  She felt the blonde’s lips open, inviting her own to mingle, to fit so perfectly.  Before Paige knew what she was doing, she had raised her own hand, feeling the starched material of Cal’s shirt, which covered a warm shoulder.

Cal sighed softly when she felt the touch, giving her courage.  Tilting her head slightly, she invited Paige deeper into the kiss, brushing just barely inside the brunette’s top lip with the tip of her tongue.  She heard the soft gasp, and the slight tightening on her shoulder, but Paige opened her mouth a bit, allowing Cal to wander inside. 

Cal was in heaven, her hand moving from the side of Paige’s face to the back of her neck.  She wished her hair was down, as she would have loved to run her fingers through it.  But, she’d happily take what she could get.  Her blood was boiling, and her sex lurched when she felt Paige sigh into the kiss, her tongue meeting Cal’s slow, sensual stroke for slow, sensual stroke.

Long moments later, Paige felt her body pulsing, and it scared her.  She tightened her grip on Cal’s shoulder more, gently pushing.  The blonde immediately broke the kiss, looking into her eyes, searching.  Paige couldn’t meet the heated gaze, as she was afraid of what Cal might see there.  Taking a deep breath, she was finally able to speak, leaning her forehead against that of the blonde.  “God, you’re good at that.”

Cal smiled.  “Thank you.  That was wonderful.”  Paige nodded, finally pulling away altogether.  “Guess we should get back, huh?”  Cal said, running her hands through her hair, making it crazier than it already was.

“Yeah.  Probably.” 

The drive back was quiet, but not uncomfortable.  Cal got the feeling that though confused, Paige was okay with what had happened.

“Do you want me to take you home still?” Cal finally asked.

“No.  I’d better just go back to the dance.”  She looked at her companion.  “If I’m brought home by someone other than Dirk, my parents will ask a lot of questions I’m not ready, nor real certain, how to answer.”

Cal nodded, understanding.

The prom seemed to be truly and fully in action.  Muted music could be heard from the parking lot.  Cal glanced at the dashboard clock and cursed softly when she saw it was half-past twelve.  Sure enough, CJ was standing at the curb, looking at his watch.  She pulled the car to a stop.  She gave Paige an apologetic smile for not opening her door for her.  Too many questions.  Paige seemed to understand as she smiled back, then let herself out.

“Hi, CJ,” she said sweetly, as Cal’s foster brother watched her head toward the prom, his mouth hanging open.  Taking Paige’s seat, he looked at the blonde for an explanation, which never came.

**

Paige had stared up at the ceiling of her bedroom for hours, unable to go to sleep.  She kept reliving the kiss, feeling the softness of Cal’s lips, the look in her eyes….  Bringing up a hand, she felt her own lips, imagining they were the blonde’s.

“Why did I do that?” she asked the night beyond the many windows in the spacious room.  That one kiss, though fairly brief, had been more exciting to Paige than every other kiss she’d ever experienced combined.  She tried to pinpoint exactly what it was that had made the kiss so different, other than the fact that Cal was female.  It was far more than that.  It was Cal, herself.  Something about her, just… intrigued Paige, somehow.  She was so different than anyone the brunette had ever know.  She respected her individuality deeply, even though it often came at a heavy cost.

But it was more than even that.  Dark brows drew as Paige thought more about it, digging below the surface of who and what Cal was.  Cal was beautiful, yes, far more than she thought the blonde even knew.  But it was almost as though the brunette felt some sort of connection with her, as though they meshed without even trying.  Even that first day she’d seen her smoking in the bathroom, Paige had felt something.  A curiosity, a need to know who she was.  She had set about pretty quickly after that to find out what the blonde punk’s name was.

Turning onto her side, she spotted her dress, wrapped in its garment bag and hanging on the back of the bedroom door.  A bemused smile creased her lips.  What did all of this mean?  Anything?

**

Cal walked through the lunch room slowly, thumbs hanging from the straps of her backpack that wrapped over and under her arms.  She chewed her bottom lip as she trolled, looking for any sign of rich, dark hair, or even any of her friends.  Finally she spotted her, an instant smile coming to her lips.

Paige was talking with a few other girls, preparing her lunch the way she wanted it.  Continuing to talk, blue eyes suddenly rose, meeting Cal’s demanding gaze.  The brunette’s lips stilled, and they connected for a heartbeat before Cal broke it, hurrying outside.

Cal took several deep breaths, trying to regain control of herself.  Just the sight of Paige brought it all back- that kiss.  That wonderful, fucking kiss.  Wiping a hand across her forehead, then through her hair, she found a place to smoke a quick cigarette, though it was more to rid herself of nervous energy than because she wanted it.

She couldn’t forget about it, no matter how hard she tried.  All weekend, that was all she could think of, all she could see or feel when she closed her eyes.  She desperately wanted more, but knew to ask was impossible.  She still had no clue as to why Paige had asked for the kiss, or at the very least, had given permission for it.  That part bothered the blonde to no small degree, though it surprised her.  She was no stranger to sex or girls, but this was different.  Paige made her feel the strangest things, and Cal was almost traumatized to know that if she were given the chance, the thing she wanted most was to hold Paige.

“What the fuck is that about?” she muttered to her Marlboro.  Getting no reply, she threw her unfinished cigarette to the pavement with disgust, smashing it with the toe of her heavy boot, the chains jingling with the move.  Sighing heavily, Cal headed back toward the school.

Cal didn’t know Paige’s school schedule, as well as she knew her attention at school would not be welcome.  All the same, whenever she happened to catch a glimpse of the brunette, Cal took a moment to study an observe, get her fill of Paige from afar.  She just wished there was some way to talk to Paige, see how she was doing, how she was handling things. 

They did not speak.

**

“Hey, congratulations, kiddo!” Max exclaimed, high-fiving his employee.  “So you get to look like a banana, huh?”

“Yeah,” Cal chuckled. “Guess the guys wear the green gowns, and we wear the gold.”

“Well,” Max reasoned, hanging the new pewter crosses that had come in. “that’s what you get for going to a school who has a bug for a mascot and green and gold for its colors.”

“We’re the hornets, not bugs.”

Max chuckled. “Whatever you say, kid.”

Their banter was interrupted by the bell above the door.  Paige walked in, looking around for Cal.  She was party relieved, and partly scared out of her mind when she spotted her, standing next to the giant who owned the store.  Both sets of eyes were on her.

“Hello, young miss.  Can I help you?” Max asked.

“I’ll get this, Max,” Cal said, handing him the final cross then sticking her hands in the back pockets of her jeans as she made her way over to Paige, eyeing her carefully.  She wasn’t sure what to expect.

“Hi,” Paige finally said, absently fingering the satiny fringes of a bookmark that lay in a box with others.  Cal said nothing, just waited.  “How are you?”

“I’m good,” the blonde nodded for emphasis.  “You?”

“Good.”  She moved in a bit closer, feeling shy and nervous, but knowing she’d let too much time pass already.  “Listen, um, I was wondering if you’d like to come out to my house sometime this weekend.  I don’t know how you feel about horses…” her voice trailed off when Cal said nothing.  Swallowing, she continued. “Are you made at me, Cal?”

“No.  I’m not mad, Paige.  Nothing was promised, right?”

“No,” Paige said quietly, realizing she was about to destroy the bookmark, so she tossed it back into the box.  “But I should have talked to you.  Said something.”

“Why?  Paige, we’ve never hung around in the same circles, and we never will.”  She lowered her voice- though Max had gone into the back, she didn’t want to chance him overhearing anything.  He was a cool religious guy, but he wasn’t that cool.  “Look, I really enjoyed… spending time with you, but I’m not stupid, and I know how the world works; you don’t owe me anything.”  She grinned, tipping Paige’s fallen chin up. “So stop looking like I’m about to pull out a whip and tie you up.  Okay?”

Paige nodded, eternally grateful.  She gave the blonde one of her best smiles. “So, how do you feel about horses?”

“Uh,” Cal stared at her. “I love horses?”

Cal couldn’t keep her mouth closed as she took in everything that surrounded her.  The house was absolutely massive- there was no other word for it.  It was like an old southern plantation, times about ten.

“You do realize half our high school could live quite comfortably in here, right?” she asked, following Paige through the massive, ostentatious rooms.

“Yes, I know.  This house has been in my father’s family for more than two hundred years.”

“Wow.  I imagine it’s gotta be paid off by now.”

Paige was charmed beyond reason as she led her guest out of the community quarters, and they headed toward the family’s bedrooms.

Cal barely heard Paige’s descriptions of antique artwork and furniture, some of it priceless.  She looked up at the seemingly endless ceilings, the rooms lit by floor to ceiling windows, which came in handy before the time of electric lighting, though Paige explained it still came in handy, as it cost a small fortune to power such a monstrous house.

“My mother had these curtains handmade for us in Italy.  They’re a wool blend that helps warm the place up.  It gets mighty cold in here with the windows in the winter.”

“I bet.”  Cal closed her mouth for the fifth time, trying not to look like the hick she felt she was.

Paige led them up yet another staircase, this one winding.  They walked down a long hall, the perfectly polished wood under their feet gleaming from the lit sconces along the way.  Finally they came to a set of double doors.  The brunette swung one side opening, indicating Cal should enter before her.  The door was closed behind them with finality.

“This is my room,” she explained softly, her heart pounding, as she knew they’d be alone for a little while.

Cal nodded in acknowledgement, then proceeded to look around.  She felt a bit more comfortable in Paige’s space, rather than the large, cold space of the rest of the house.  The bedroom was separated into three huge rooms- bathroom, changing room/closet and the actual sleeping area.  As she looked around, noting personal effects- posters, a sweater draped over the back of a chair, Paige’s backpack, the blonde tried to imagine her friend living there, dreaming, doing school work, sleeping…

Paige stood back, watching, curious as to what Cal’s reaction would be.  It was the first time she’d had someone over who wasn’t from her world, and who didn’t grow up with the same, or close to the same, opulence as she did.  Part of her felt guilty, knowing Cal had very little, let alone an over abundance of any and everything her heart could dream up.

Her thoughts came to a very sudden end when, with a cry, Cal threw herself onto Paige’s huge bed, stretching her arms and legs out in every direction.  “This thing is huge!”  the blonde glanced up at a grinning brunette.  “You must feel lost when you sleep in this thing.  I think you’re bed is the size off my entire bedroom.”

“Well,” Paige said, climbing on, “I’m glad you like it.”  She held her head up on her hand, lying on her side.  She was so amused by Cal’s antics.  Cal grinned, turning to her back and sighing as she relaxed on the cloud-like mattress. 

Paige noticed something on the blonde’s arm.  Narrowing her eyes, she took Cal’s hand, bringing the arm closer to her inspection.  She gasped when she realized it was burn marks.  “Oh, Callahan…”

Cal looked at the healed cigar burns with basic apathy.

“Who did this to you?” Paige asked, anger in her quiet question.

“One of my foster dads.  It’s nothing, Paige.”

“Nothing?  Jesus, Cal!  He burned you with… what, is this cigarette or cigar?”

“Cubans.  The only thing he’d smoke.  And god help you if you got the wrong kind.”

Paige scooted closer to Cal, to get a better look at the arm.  She caressed the scars with the pad of her thumb.  “I’m so sorry.”  Cal said nothing, waiting for Paige’s next discovery.  She knew it wouldn’t take long.  Another gasp escaped the brunette’s throat when she turned Cal’s arm over.  Tears sprang to her eyes as she spied the long scars that started at the base of the blonde’s wrist and ended a third of the way up her arm.  She reached across Cal to look at her other arm.  The scars were there.  “Did you…” she whispered, unable to get the full question out.

“Didn’t succeed,” Cal said, looking at the old scar.  “I tried, though.  Gave it a good run.  My foster sister found me.”

“How old were you?” Paige’s voice was shaky, her emotions hanging on by a thread.

“I was 14.  I was in a very bad situation, and it was the only way I could think of to get out.  Without living on the streets, that is.”  She met watery blue eyes.  “my caseworker removed me from the house when I got out of the hospital.”  Bringing a hand up, she caught the single tear that managed to slip out of Paige’s left eye.  “Don’t cry, Paige,” she whispered.  “I’m not worth your tears.”

Paige met her gaze, cocking her head slightly. “No, you’re worth so much more than that.”  She lowered her head, placing a soft kiss on the old scar.  “I’m glad it didn’t work.”  She met troubled green eyes.  That same sadness deep in their endless depths.  “I wish I could take some of your melancholy away, Cal.”

The blonde smiled.  “You do.”

The brunette studied those eyes and saw nothing but shining truth there.  She couldn’t stop herself as she leaned down again, this time taking Cal’s lips in a soft kiss.  She felt Cal’s immediately move beneath hers, and lowered herself more, only holding herself up on a forearm.  She could feel the barest brush of Cal’s breasts against her own.

Cal wrapped her hand around Paige’s neck, her other pressing against the other girl’s lower back, bringing her body further into contact with Cal’s.  They both sighed into the deepening kiss at the contact of soft warmth.  She reached up, gently tugging on the hair tie that held Paige’s long hair in a ponytail.  The brunette broke the kiss, just long enough to pull her hair free, shaking her head so the dark strands fell around them.

“You like it down?” she asked against the blonde’s lips.  At Cal’s nod, she smiled, then continued the kiss.

Cal buried her hands in the soft thickness, marveling at how closely it matched her dreams.  She couldn’t believe how good Paige felt against her, on top of her.  She tasted wonderful, and she wished so badly to know if she tasted so good everywhere.  Perhaps some day she’d get the chance to find out.

Paige sucked in a surprised breath as suddenly she found herself on her back, Cal atop her.  She recovered quickly, burying her fingers in soft, blonde hair as she pulled Cal closer.  She couldn’t keep the soft moan from escaping when a thigh nudged hers apart, making room.  Cal pushed her hips into Paige, thrilling when she felt the gorgeous girl beneath her push back.

Running a hand down Paige’s body, she hooked her fingers under her thigh, bringing the leg up to deepen the contact between.

“OH, god,” Paige moaned, breaking the kiss as she arched her head back.  Cal took the opportunity to pay homage to Paige’s slender throat, using mouth and tongue to explore.  Paige was lost in  a sensual haze, her body igniting.  She felt Cal’s hand leave her thigh and travel up over her hip, to her side, the thumb coming dangerously close to the underside of her left breast.  She let out a long breath, her back arching, begging for the touch.

Cal felt the invitation, and moved back to Paige’s mouth as her hand covered the breast, feeling the nipple already hardening.  She continued to rock slowly against Paige, wanting to take her time and not scare the brunette.  It was not easy, as she wanted nothing more than to devour her.  She pressed harder and deeper when Paige’s hands slid down her back to her denim-clad butt, squeezing.

“God, you feel so good,” she moaned into Paige’s mouth.

“So do you.”  Paige could feel the heat in her stomach getting hotter and spreading throughout her body.  Never had she felt anything like it.  Certainly not with the little she’d done with any of her boyfriends.  The thoughts flashed through mind that if what they were doing felt so exquisite clothed, what would it be like to feel Cal naked against her.  The thought threw over a brink she hadn’t realized she was close to.  Her body convulsed, Cal holding her tight as her body continued to pulse.

Cal held on for dear life, stunned that Paige had climaxed.  She pressed intimately to her, allowing the brunette to ride out the storm against her thigh.  She felt her body screaming at her for the same, for more stimulation, but when Paige buried her face in her hands, those thoughts went out the window.

“Hey,” she cooed, stilling her hips and lowering herself to her elbows.  She brushed some hair away from an extremely flushed face, caressing Paige’s cheek, once she got her hands moved out of the way. 

“I’m so embarrassed,” Paige finally managed.

“Shh, don’t be.  It’s okay.  You were beautiful.”  Cal smiled lovingly, gently brushing Paige’s hair back.  The brunette smiled, but it was somewhat forced.  “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen, so it should be me who’s embarrassed.”

Paige shook her head.  “No.”  She leaned up, placing a soft kiss to Cal’s lips. “Please don’t be.”  She wrapped her arms around Cal’s neck, gently pulling her down to lay atop her again.  “Don’t be,” she repeated against soft lips.  “A lot happens in life that we don’t intend.”

Cal groaned as Paige pushed up into her, her simmering arousal coming to a very quick boil once more.  She had never met anyone that could turn her on like a switch.  That thought was very brutally interrupted when she was nearly thrown off the bed as Paige jumped to her feet.  Confused, Cal realized when she heard the knock at the bedroom door.

Heart pounding, Paige ran a shaky hand through her hair.  Taking several deep breaths, she adjusted her clothing, walking over to the door.  One quick glance over her shoulder saw Cal finding herself very interested in Paige’s crystal piano collection.

Bernie stood on the other side, waiting for the door to open.  When it did, she was presented with a somewhat breathless daughter.  “I wasn’t sure if you’d be home.  I hoped, considering there is a strange car in the drive.”

“Oh, yes, I have a friend here, Mother,” Paige explained, praying that her face wasn’t acting as a billboard for what had been interrupted.

“Oh?  And who is this friend?  The car didn’t’ look familiar at all.”  Bernie thought of the rusted out Honda, her ire growing.

“No, it belongs to my new friend, Callahan Cullen.  Cal, come meet my mother.”

Cal put on her most charming smile, extending a hand to the scowling woman.  Bernie studied the hand as though she might catch something from it.  Cal had to hold her laughter inside- if you only know where that hand was moments ago, you old hag.  Finally Bernie took it, though her own hand was cold and limp.

“A pleasure.  Paige, a word, please.”

Paige sent an apologetic look to her friend before following her mother out into the hall, closing the door behind them.

“I don’t want that girl here,” Bernie said, the door not even fully shut, yet.

“Mother!  Cal will hear.”

“Cal?  What kind of name is that for a girl?”  Bernie blew out a breath.  “I can’t believe you let her in here.  Now she knows what we have, Paige.  She can come back and rob us blind!”

Paige was stunned, literally taking a step back, as though she’d been physically touched.  She couldn’t believe her mother.  “I don’t get this, Mother.  You don’t eve know her.”

“Look at her, Paige!  We taught you better than that.  That lemon she drives, the holes in her clothing…. My god.  Where did you find her?  The gutter?”

“No, mother, at school. Bow can I stop being rude  and get back to my friend?”

“I mean it, Paige.  I don’t want that filth here.”

Paige was incredulous, shaking her head as she slowly backed up toward her bedroom door.  Disgusted and heartbroken for Cal, she entered the room.  Cal stared out one of the many huge windows, hands in her back pockets.  Paige studied her carefully, trying to see if she’d heard any of the conversation, though she knew it wasn’t’ likely.

“Hey,” the blonde said, turning from her vigil. “Is everything okay?  Didn’t get you into trouble or anything, did I?”

“In trouble for what?” Paige asked cautiously.

“Slumin’.”

Paige could tell by Cal’s grin that it was just a lucky guess.  She returned the smile, shaking her head. “No.  Come on.  I’ll show you the grounds.”

**

Paige had been wonderfully surprised when Cal took her hand as they strolled through the woods that surrounded the property.  They smiled at each other, silent pledge made.  Even still, a sadness hung in the brunette’s heart.  Her mother’s reaction earlier from just the mere thought of Cal being a friend had put the woman into a tizzy.  Anything more and Paige knew she’d be disowned.  The thought plagued her.

“Hey,” Cal said, shaking their conjoined hands to get her walking companion’s attention.  Paige’s brows were drawn in thought, her aura dark.  When blue eyes blinked at her, she smiled softly.  “You okay?”

Paige nodded, taking a deep breath to dispel her morose thoughts.  “So, tell me, Cal.  How many girls have you charmed into your affections, before me?”

The blonde laughed, squeezing Paige’s hand. “A few.  But, jeez, you make me sound like some sort of seducer.”

“Aren’t you?”

Cal chuckled.  “No.”  She looked at Paige, stopping their progress as she leaned back against eh trunk of a huge tree.  She looped her thumbs into the hip pockets of her jeans.  “I don’t get anyone to do what isn’t already in them.”

Paige stepped in front of her, resting a hand on the trunk, above Cal’s head.  “So, you’re saying it was already in me?”

“Yeah.  That’s why you did the checking, finding out my name, defending me, tugging on my hand to drag me into the closet…”

Paige leaned in, her voice dropping in a seductive tease.  “I found out your name cause I wanted to know who the letch was that would dare kiss me.  Me!  The great and beautiful Paige Harris.”

Cal chuckled again, grabbing the brunette by the front of her shirt.  Paige allowed herself to be pulled in, yet again.  She could also feel herself getting lost in those green eyes again.  Bringing up a hand, she caressed the side of Cal’s face. “You are really beautiful, Callahan.”

The whispered words went straight to the blonde’s heart, nearly blindsiding her with an intense feeling of love.  Love?!  Swallowing hard, she murmured a soft “Thank you.”  Paige felt a tenderness flow through her that she’d never known, gently cupping Cal’s face as she kissed her, pressing their bodies together.  The kiss was slow, leisurely and filled with the desire that passed between them.  When it broke, Cal was panting, her forehead resting against Paige’s.

“Jesus, woman.”  She heard the brunette’s soft chuckle.  She felt Paige pull her away from the tree, arms wrapping around her neck.  Cal eagerly returned the tight embrace, wallowing in the feel of Paige, the very essence that had been haunting the blonde for months.

“I feel so connected to you,” Paige murmured, resting her head on Cal’s shoulder, sighing in contentment..

After long moments, Cal pulled away, placing a soft kiss to Paige’s forehead.  “I better go,” she said, hating the idea even as the words left her mouth.

“Okay,” Paige sighed, knowing full well that the blonde was right.  She looked into her eyes, her heart swelling as for the first time, she didn’t see the profound sadness in their depths.  “I want o show you something real quick.”

Standing on an old, bumpy dirt road, Paige squeezed Cal’s hand. “Use this.  Security never comes over here, and my mom doesn’t know it’s here.  It’s an old logging road that no one uses anymore.”  She turned to the blonde. “Come see me, Cal.  Anytime.”

The blonde nodded. “Okay.  Walk me to my car?”

“Yeah.  Come on.”

**

Cal munched happily on her sandwich, legs swinging from the tall planter she was perched upon.  Her lightly beat her heels against it.  The sun was shining brightly, and the warmth warmed her skin as she raised her face to the glorious rays.  She let out a soft sigh, amazed at just how good she felt.  Her day spent with Paige over the weekend, then finding out at work last night that Max was giving her a raise for a job well done.  She found out she’d managed to pass her math test Friday, and she would graduate.  By the skin of her teeth, but she would finally be done.  Hell, even Carl had been leaving her alone.  All in all, life was a good, and Cal just waited for the other shoe to drop.

The blonde was surprised to feel her pant leg tugged.  When she looked down, she saw Paige grin at her over her shoulder as she walked by with a couple friends.  Cal raised an accusing brow.  The brunette stuck her tongue out, then whipped her head, long hair flying out dramatically.  Cal chuckled, her day just getting even better.

Green eyes twinkling with mischief, Cal hopped down from her high perch.  “Hey, Paige,” she called out.  Paige turned, as did her friends.  “You dropped something.”  She held up her hand, holding the folded note she’d planned to shove into the brunette’s locker later.  She figured this was as good a time as any.  Paige raised a brow, but made her way back over to the blonde.

“Dropped it, did I?” she asked, her voice low.

“Yep.  Dropped right out of your back pocket.”  Paige smirked, considering her skirt had no back pockets.  She took the paper, brushing her finger over Cal’s as she did.  Their gazes met for a moment, then Paige turned and sauntered back over to her friends.  Cal made no secret of checking out her ass as she did.  Claire saw it.

“God, she is so weird,” she muttered, eyes raising to meet Cal's.  Claire quickly turned away, hurrying after her friends.

**

Paige sat in class, her mind anywhere but on the lecture.  Graduation was less than a month away, and she just wasn’t thinking about it.  This surprised her, as at the beginning of the semester, it had absolutely taken over her thoughts.  Now, it just didn’t seem to matter.

Realizing her wanderings were going to get her in trouble, she excused herself to go to the bathroom to get her head back from the clouds..

Claire watched her friend leave.

Paige pushed open the bathroom door, immediately her senses were struck by fresh cigarette smoke.  As if replaying their first meeting, Cal sat on the counter near the wall, one booted foot up on the trashcan.    Paige grinned as she walked further into the room.

“You know this is really disgusting when I try and kiss you,” she said, plucking the cigarette from Cal’s fingers and rinsing it under the faucet.  The cherry fizzled out.

“Oh really?”

“Yeah, really.”

Cal turned on the counter, dangling her legs over the edge.  She grabbed Paige by her hips, tugging until the brunette was standing between her spread legs.  “Hmm.  Well, I’ll have to remedie that, then.”  She reached into the inside pocket of her denim jacket and took out a container of breath mints, popping one into her mouth.  “Better?

“Much,” Paige murmured leaning in close, inhaling deeply. “Except for the stink on your clothes and hair.”  She scrunched up her nose.  “Disgusting.”

“I’ll quit tomorrow,” Cal grinned, leaning in closer.  Paige chuckled.

“You do that.  Why aren’t you in class?”

“Why aren’t you?” Cal challenged, bringing her hands down to the brunette’s butt, pulling her in as close as possible.  Paige gasped softly at the contact, her body immediately  warming.  She looked nervously at the bathroom door, then turned to the blonde, running her fingers through her hair, grinning as the motion made it even crazier.

“I love your hair,” she said, feeling the cool strands. 

“Thank you.  So, do I get a kiss or what?”  Cal tightened her grip on Paige’s hips, wiggling her brows.  Paige met her gaze.

“Do you think you deserve one?”

“Always.”

“Hmm, then maybe I’ll have to consider it,” Paige murmured against Cal’s lips.  Her eyes closed at the first touch of the soft lips

“Mmm, I missed you,” Cal purred into the kiss.  Paige smiled.

“So, was this what you meant in your note, by wanting me?”  Her smile widened at the chuckle she heard.  Cal didn’t bother answering, as they both knew exactly what she had meant.  Instead, she deepened the kiss.  So involved in it, they almost didn’t hear the squeak as the bathroom door was pushed open.  The loud gasp caught their attention.

Paige felt her heart fall as Claire stared in the open doorway, eyes huge, mouth open.  “Holy shit,” the redhead exclaimed, then hurried from the room.

“Shit!”  Paige ran after her, leaving Cal sitting where she was, head hanging.  “Claire, wait!” Paige called, hurrying after her friend.  She barely caught her before the girl managed to get back into their classroom.  The girl looked down where Paige’s hand had hold of her shirt.  The brunette let go, but kept her friend there in the hall. 

“What the hell are you into, Paige?” she asked, incredulous, her heart pounding.

“Claire, look, you won’t understand-“

“So explain it to me!  You’d better, because I cannot believe what I saw, Paige.  Please tell me she forced you, something.”

“No, she didn’t.  Claire, Cal’s really cool.  Please, just give me this, keep this to yourself.”  The pleading in Paige’s voice and eyes was desperate, on the verge of tears.

“You’re kidding me, right?  You expect me to keep this… this freak and you to myself?!  I don’t think so, Paige!  What the hell did she do to you?”  Claire was absolutely petrified for her friend.  If noting else, she felt the need to tell someone so they could help her friend.

“I can’t believe you!  I thought you were my friend?”

“I thought she was the only freak in the school.”

Paige was stung, badly.  She took a step back, as though Claire had physically slapped her with her words of condemnation.  She was disgusted, and felt as though she could throw up.  There was a large part of her that was terrified of the fall out.

Without another word, she headed into the classroom, grabbed up her belongings, told the teacher she wasn’t feeling good, and left.  Claire was shaken as she hurried back into the class.

Cal hurried from the bathroom, looking for Paige.  She’d caught the tail-end of the fight between the two friends, but hadn’t been in the hall to follow which way the brunette had gone.  What she wanted to do almost more than anything, was hunt down Claire and beat the shit out f her.  Knowing that wasn’t an option, so she went after Paige, instead.

Wiping angry tears from her face, Paige got her car roaring to life, about to head out of the parking lot when she saw Cal burst through the front doors of the school, looking frantically around.  Without a thought, she was all smoke and squealed tires, pulling up to the curb, causing Cal to jump back or lose a toe.  Without a word, she climbed in, holding on for dear life as Paige raced off toward the street.

After awhile, Cal glanced over at her companion.  “Are you okay?” she asked quietly, not sure what to do or say.  Part of her felt guilty, but another part was relived; she hated the ruse.  Paige nodded, reaching over and taking the blonde’s hand in her own, resting them on her thigh.

“I’m sorry she acted that way, Paige.”

“I don’t want to talk about it right now,” the brunette said softly, smiling weakly at the blonde to take the sting from her words.  She asked for directions up to the old mill, which Cal gave her.

The BMW crawled carefully over the badly deteriorated paving that was once the road, then came to a stop, near the spot Cal had parked on prom night.  Paige slammed her door closed, looking out over the town.

“It all looks so different in the light of day,” she murmured.

“Yeah.  It does.  I like it better at night.”

“The lights are so pretty then.”

Cal looked at her friend: Paige stood, hugging herself.  It was obvious she was still upset.  Deciding some major comforting needed to take place, the blonde shrugged out of her jacket, flopping it on the ground in front of a tree.  Sitting down, she called to Paige, beckoning her over.  Paige took the blonde’s hand, lowering herself, and sitting between Cal’s legs, her back to the blonde’s front.  Cal wrapped her arms around the brunette, resting her head against Paige’s, where it rested back against Cal’s upper chest.

Paige sighed, feeling her worries slipping away as Cal held her.  She placed her arms over the blonde’s, pulling their arms tighter around her.  Cal happily obliged, closing her eyes as she inhaled the brunette’s scent, almost memorizing it.  She tried to ignore the shiver that ran down her spine as Paige began to drag her fingernails lightly over the exposed skin of her arms.  The brunette didn’t seem to notice the affect it was having.

“What do you want for your life, Cal?  Where do you want to go?  Do?  See?”

Cal sighed, kissing the top of Paige’s head before resting hers against it again. “I want to leave here, leave Boomington.  That much I know.  I’d love to leave the state, see what else is out there, you know?  See the ocean, the mountains, hike the Rockies….  I want to be happy, that much I know.  I want to be somewhere and feel like I belong.”  Her words had dropped to a whisper, reaching Paige’s heart.  She smiled softly.

“We should run away together.  Forget all about this place and the people in it.”  They both knew she was joking, but in her heart, deep down where she was afraid to look, she wasn’t.

“Yeah.  Run off and join the circus.”

“There ya go.  You could be the bearded lady and I’ll be the muscle-bound oddity.”

Cal laughed, bouncing Paige with the movement.  “Right.”  She ran a gentle hand through dark hair.  “I have no idea what I want to do, though.  I’ve never really thought about it.  To be honest, I figured I’d never survive high school, so didn’t think it was anything to worry about.”

Paige slapped her lightly on the arm. “Don’t say that.”

“What?  It’s true.  I’ve been pretty reckless.”

“Or just plain stupid…”

“Eh, tomato, tomato.”

Paige chuckled, snuggling in even closer.

“What about you?  What are you going to study in your big, expensive British college?”

The brunette sighed, staring off over the town.  “I don’t know.  I know my father will want me to take ‘Find good Marrying Stock 101’.  My mother, too.  But for me, I just don’t know.  I’ve thought about law or medicine, or all the other careers that I’m supposed to be interested in.”

“But, what are you interested in?” Cal asked, her words soft in Paige’s ear.

“You’ll laugh.”

“Try me.”